Electrolytic apparatus and method



M. M. MERRIT T. ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD.

APPLIQATION FILED AUG.2, 1918.

Patented Mar. 30, 1920.

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UNITED ST T S PATENT oFFIoE.

. nnrrnnw, M. titanium, or sou'rn MIDDLETON, mnssncnusn'rrs, ASSIGNOB 'ro p connnrnonucrs commmr, ornosron, MASSACHUSETTS, A coarona'rrou To-all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MATTHEW M. MERRIT'r,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of South Middleton, county of'Essex, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented an "Improvement in Electrolytic Apparatus and Methods, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a "speclfication, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

' This invent on pertains to improvements in electrolytic apparatus and methods. I

have elected to disclose the invention in connection with the manufacture of miscellaneous articles such as Venturi tubes for aeroplane speedometers, though the invention is equally applicable to the manufacture of numerous other articles such, for instance, as propeller tips, radiator tubes, artificial members and the like. I

In the drawings, in which I have shown one form of apparatus constitutin an illustrative embodiment of a preferre form of my invention, and Wherewith my improved method may be practised Figure 1' is a vertical section, part1; in elevation, through my improved electro ic apparatus; and

Fig. 2 is a vertical section, partly in elevation, on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown a tanlio3 containing the electrolyte 4 and anode 6 driven in any suitable way, typified by the pulley 7, and carrfying a wheel 8 constituting a preferred. orm of cathode carrier. The wheel 8 is preferably immersed about one-third in the electrolyte, and is preferably rotated at such a rate that any given portion of the periphery thereof will be under the electrolyte approximately two sec onds and 'out of the electrolyte approximately four seconds. I

The preferred form of cathode carrier may be an ordinary wagon wheel having the iron tire removed therefrom and having spokes 9, herein shown as eight in number. The articles on which electrolytic deposit is to be formed may be supported between the spokes. 9, and I have elected to show Venturi tubes 10 forming the-cathode and preferably of fusible metal adapted to Specification of Letters Patent.

xes 5, and having a horizontal shaft,

be readily melted from the copper shell after electro-deposition. The cathodes 10 may be connected to the shaft 6 by a wire 11, and the shaft 6 may receive current from any suitable source, the negative wire being connected by a wire 12 to the anodes 5, 5.

I have found that evenness of deposit is promoted by providing a conductive band 13, constituting one form of"thief, connected by a wire 14 to the shaft 6. The thief 13 takes up the excessof deposit and prevents the forming of nodules on that portion of the cathode farthest removed from the axis of the wheel '8. I have also found that smoothness of deposit is eatly assisted by providing plows or ha as 15, which may be conveniently attached to the spokes 9. These plows serve to create cross currents of the electrolytic fluid as the various cathodes pass through the bath.

' The method of operation of thepreferred form of apparatus comprises the alternate immersion and emersion of each cathode, the period of emersion being approximately twice that of the periods of immersion, which preferably do not exceed two seconds for any given cathode. The plows 15 provide cross-currents of the, electrolytic fluid which effectively prevent the adhesion of occluded hydrogen, cuprous oxid or dirt to the cathode, and the thief 13 takes up that excess of copper which would formerly tend to deposit on the outer portions of the cathodes.

The preferred operation of the apparatus is as follows. The various cathodes are fastened between the spokes in any suitable way and connected by suitable wires to the shaft 6. The thief 13 is also connected to the shaft 6. The anodes '5, 5, which are preferably formed of scraps of copper held in any suitable anode containers, are connected to the negative pole of a direct current cir cuit, and the shaft 6 is connected to the positive pole of said circuit. Before current is turned on, I preferably start the shaft 6 in rotation by applying power to the pulley 7. After current is turned on, the electrodeposit is continued until the desired thickness of copper has been deposited on the cathode. I have found that, by my improved method and with my preferred form of apparatus, I can secure copper of very Patented Mar.'30, 1920. Application niedau ust 2, 1918. Serial No. 247,966.

superior toughness and smoothness, and at thesarne time that I can utilize a considerably greater amount of current than where the cathodeis constantly immersed in the Without departing from the scope of my mvention, which is best'defined in the following claims.

Claims:

1. Electrolytic apparatus including a cathode support having provision for rapid and recurrent alternate immersion and emersion of thecathode in the electrolyte.

2. Electrolytic apparatus including a cathode support having provision for alternate immersion and emersion of the cathode in the electrolyte and a thief adjacent the cathode.

3. Electrolytic a paratus including a cathode support having provision for rapid and recurrent alternate immersion and emersion of the cathode in the electrolyte and a plow adjacent the cathode. 4. Electrolytic apparatus including a cathode support having provision for alternate immersion and emersion of the cathode in the electrolyte and a thief and plow adjacent the cathode.

5. Electrolytic apparatus comprising, in combination, a rotary cathode support for carrying a plurality of cathodes, said cathode support being partially immersed in the electrolyte, and'a thief carried by said rotary cathode support at a greater distance from the axis thereof than the, cathodes.

6. Electrolytic apparatus comprising, in combination, a rotary cathode support for carrying a plurality of cathodes, said cathode support being partially immersed in the electrolyte, and plows secured to the rotary cathode support in front of and behind the cathodes, and means for rapidly rotating said cathode support to stir the the cathode by passin electrolyte by said plows and rapidly and gelcurre'ntly to immerse and emerse the cath- 7. Electrolytic apparatus comprising, in combination, a rotary cathode support for carrying a plurality of cathodes, said cathode support being partially immersed in the electrol te, a thief carried by said rotary catho e support at a greater distance from the axis thereof than the cathodes and plows secured to the rotary cathode support in front of and behind the cathodes.

8. The methodof depositing metal on cathodes which comprises alternately im mersing and emersing the cathode, while preventing excess deposit on any portion of the cathode by passing current through a thief adjacent the cathode.

9. The .method of depositing metal on cathodes which comprises rapidly, recurrently and alternately immersing and emersing the cathode, whi e preventing roughness of deposit on the cathode by stirrin the electrolyte adjacent the cathode by a p ow.

. 10. The method of depositing metal on cathodes which comprises alternately immersing and emersing the cathode, while preventing excess deposit on any portion of current through a thief adjacent the cat ode and preventing roughness of deposit thereon by stirring the electrolyte adjacent the cathode by a plow.

llfThe method .of depositing metal on miscellaneous articles used as cathodes which comprises alternately immersing and emersing each cathode.

12. The method of depositing metal on miscellaneous articles used as cathodes" which comprises alternately immersing and emersing each cathode by rotating a cathode support having one portion thereof -constantly immersedin the electrolyte and-another portion thereof constantly out of the electrolyte.

13. The method of depositing metal on miscellaneous articles used as cathodes which comprises alternately immersing and emersing each cathode'by rotating a cathode support having a lesser portion thereof constantly immersed. in the electrolyte, and a greater portion thereof constantly out of the electrolyte.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

MATTHEW M. MERRITT. 

